Teachout Endorsed By Progressive Group

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Democratic primary opponent Zephyr Teachout on Tuesday was endorsed by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee — a group that has pushed for the public financing of political campaigns here in New York.

The PCCC’s support for Teachout isn’t much of a surprise, considering the group backed the Fordham Law professor’s candidacy on the Working Families Party ballot line in May.

Support from the labor-backed party went to Cuomo after he agreed to back a number of liberal measures as well as a full Democratic takeover of the state Senate.

“Zephyr Teachout and Andrew Cuomo are exact opposites,” said PCCC co-founder Stephanie Taylor. “He is embroiled in the biggest corruption scandal in years, and she is a crusader against corruption. He is a corporate Democrat serving big-money donors, while she is an economic populist. For us, the choice is clear. Zephyr is the right candidate for New York. Zephyr Teachout would be a transformational governor of New York — open, honest, populist.”

Teachout, along with comedian-activist Randy Credico will challenge Cuomo next month in the Sept. 9 primary.

Cuomo’s re-election campaign backs an effort to remove Teachout from the ballot, claiming she has not lived in the state long enough to qualify for statewide office.

PCCC says it has raised more than $1 million in the current campaign cycle, and the cash goes directly to liberal candidates.